Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Chris Douglas is a Montana-based photographer and creative director who is one of the most sought-after visual storytellers in the American West. Chris is a go-to photographer for iconic brands such as Filson, Stetson, and Mossy Oak, and his editorial work appears regularly in publications including Modern Huntsman and Men’s Journal. In a world flooded with iPhone photography and armchair creatives, Chris’s work stands out as being artistically stunning and of the highest professional caliber. - When viewing Chris’s work, most people would assume that he’s been laser focused on photography for his entire career. But even though his interest in photography began at age ten, the first half of his career was spent in front of the lens-- first as an international model for brands such as Versace, and then as a successful television actor. But life moving between LA, New York, and Milan was not a fit with his love of the outdoors, so Chris eventually moved to Montana, where he continued his life-long passion for hunting and adventure. Then, as you’ll hear him describe, Chris was severely injured in a horse accident, which became the catalyst that led him to leave acting behind and devote his full energies to photography. - Those of you who are long-time listeners know that I spend a lot of time preparing for each of these interviews, but, as you’ll hear, I was completely surprised by much of Chris’s story. Chris is unbelievably humble and keeps a low profile, so I was honored that he was open to sharing his full journey with me on the podcast. We started out chatting about his upbringing in east Tennessee and his tight-knit, supportive family that he credits with being the foundation for all of his success. Then we discussed his fascinating career trajectory-- from international model to soap opera star to television host to photographer. We had a great conversation about his Native American ancestry and how Native culture has influenced his work and family’s life in Montana. - Chris’s story is both entertaining and instructive-- he is a wonderful example of how life’s unexpected twists and turns can lead people on the most interesting journeys. And how hard work, humility, creativity, and professionalism can result in a one-of-a-kind life and career. Check out the extensive episode notes for links to everything we discuss.  Enjoy! --- Chris Douglas Photography Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/chris-douglas/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 5:00 – Where Chris grew up 6:45 – How did Chris become interested in photography? 10:00 – Chris’s other artistic talents 11: 15 – Chris beginning to work with Bruce Weber 16:00 – Chris learning more about photography through observation 18:00 – Social media’s impact on photography from Chris’s perspective 19:00 – Chris pursuing his passion for hunting while modeling 22:45 – Chris reflects on the best and worst parts of his career in front of the camera 24:30 – What pushed Chris to spend time in the outdoors in the middle of a successful modeling/acting career 26:00 – Why Chris decided to move to Montana 28:30 –Chris’s gradual transition to professional photography behind the lens 30:30 – Chris’s run in with an ornery horse 39:30 – Chris reflects on all the jobs that got him to where he is now 42:00 – Chris’s keys to success in business and photography 47:00 – Chris’s Native heritage 50:00 – Chris reflects on learning about his heritage 55:43 – Where Chris thinks his career will go from here 58:15 – Book recommendations 1:01:45 – Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Monte Burke is a journalist, New York Times bestselling author, and contributing editor at Forbes, Garden & Gun, and The Drake. His most recent book is Lords of the Fly: Madness, Obsession, and the Hunt for the World-Record Tarpon, which was one of the best books I read in 2020. He’s also the author of Saban: The Making of a Coach, which also happens to be one of my all-time favorite books. Whether he’s writing about fly fishing, Colorado conservationists, elk hunting, or football, Monte’s work is always impeccably researched and fun to read. - I loved every page of Lords of the Fly, and both anglers and non-anglers alike will be drawn into the book’s engaging story and wild characters. One of my favorite aspects of the book was how it opened my eyes to the connections between the 1970s Florida fishing scene and modern-day art, poetry, and literature of the American West. Western luminaries who are frequently mentioned on this podcast-- Tom McGuane, Jim Harrison, Richard Brautigan, Russell Chatham, and more-- all created art and chased tarpon together in Florida in the 1970s. They all eventually moved West and became some of the most respected western artists of their time, but were it not for the creative foundation they built in Florida, today’s western literary and art scene would look quite different. - Monte and I had a fun and wide-ranging conversation discussing everything from fly fishing to fatherhood. We started out talking about Lords of the Fly-- we obviously talked about the crew of anglers that included McGuane and Harrison, but we also discussed the full cast of obsessed characters who make up the history of fly fishing for tarpon. Monte explains why this story was so compelling to him, and he discusses some of the headwinds he encountered while trying to get the book published. We discuss Monte’s attraction to writing about intense, obsessed people, whether they happen to be world champion coaches or anglers. We chatted about Monte’s writing and journalism career, as well as some of the routines that allow him to be such a prolific writer. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, authors, films, and he offers up some wise parting words. - If you love fishing and literature, or if you’re an aspiring writer or artist, this episode is chock-full of useful information. Be sure to check out the show notes for links to everything we discuss-- this episode may very well hold the record for most books and authors recommended. Hope you enjoy! --- Monte Burke "Lords of the Fly" by Monte Burke All books by Monte Burke Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/monte-burke/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:50 - Why Monte was drawn into the story of fly fishing for tarpon  8:30 - Early stages of writing the book 14:30 - Jim Harrison, Tom McGuane, and tarpon fishing 20:45 - What McGuane such a unique writer? 23:15 - Monte's decision to include himself in the story 26:45 - His obsession with obsessed people 31:15 - Monte's personal obsessions 35:45 - How having children affected his outlook and career 40:15 - When writing and reading became his focus 42:45 - Getting started in journalism + writing at night 45:45 - The coolest part of writing 48:45 - Writing routine 53:15 - Techniques for convincing people to share their stories 56:15 - Writers that Monte admires 59:45 - Favorite books 1:00:30 - Favorite movie 1:02:15 - Favorite place in the West 1:03:45 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Malcolm Brooks is a Montana-based author best known for his epic novel "Painted Horses," a sweeping, large-scale tale of life in the American West in the 1950s. Published in 2015, Painted Horses has quickly become a classic among those who love Western literary fiction. Even more impressive, "Painted Horses" was Malcolm's first published novel-- a truly remarkable feat when you consider the story's breadth and depth and its characters. - Malcolm's obsession with writing began at age fourteen when a teacher gave him a copy of Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove" during an incredibly formative period of his life. From that point on, Malcolm was laser-focused on becoming an author-- so much so that he completed his first full-length novel when he was only 18 years old. Malcolm continued to consistently write throughout his twenties, experiencing moderate journalism success, but never publishing a novel. When he was in his early thirties, Malcolm finally decided to go all-in on writing his dream novel-- "to go big or go home" as he says-- and he began the five-year process of writing "Painted Horses." It's safe to say that his efforts paid off-- "Painted Horses" has been compared to the works of Cormac McCarthy, Wallace Stegner, and more. - Malcolm and I were introduced by another gifted author and past podcast guest, Chris Dombrowski, and we had a wonderful conversation. If you're interested in the creative process or the ins-and-outs of craftsmanship, you will love this episode. We started out by talking about our mutual love of Lonesome Dove, and Malcolm shares how that book changed the trajectory of his life. We discuss Malcolm's upbringing, formal education, commitment to carpentry, and artistic and literary influences. We obviously discuss "Painted Horses," and he offers a sneak preview of his upcoming novel, "Cloudmaker." Malcolm tells a great story about finding an ancient buffalo skull and offers tons of great book recommendations. And finally, he has some wise parting words that I think you'll find useful and timely. - Thanks to Malcolm for taking the time to chat. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. Hope you enjoy! --- "Painted Horses" by Malcolm Brooks "Cloudmaker" by Malcolm Brooks Full episode notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/malcolm-brooks/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Influence of Lonesome Dove 9:30 – When did Malcolm discover he wanted to be a writer? 10:30 – Malcolm’s foray into carpentry and its overlaps with his writing 11:30 – Malcolm’s first manuscript 14:00 – When did Malcolm first get published? 15:45 – How Malcolm first became interested in Montana 17:45 – Malcolm’s formal education experience 20:30 – Painted Horses 22:30 – Malcolm’s self-critique and artistic influences 25:30 – Malcolm’s writing process 27:30 – Is writing fun for Malcolm? 28:15 – Legends of the Fall 30:30 – The importance of reading to Malcolm 32:00 – The importance of supplementary income for creatives and authors 37:00 – Malcolm’s advice for finishing a project and notes on new projects he is working on 40:30 - Yellowstone and its impact on American Western-focused television 41:30 – What authors does Malcolm admire? 48:00 – Slight teaser for Malcolm’s upcoming book, Cloudmaker 51:45 – What other art has shaped Malcolm’s world view? 53:30 – Malcolm’s most powerful experience in the outdoors 1:00:00 – Words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Mike Foote is a Montana-based professional ultrarunner and ski mountaineer who is best known for his inspiring performances in 100-mile ultramarathons and multiday endurance expeditions through wild landscapes. In 2018, he set the world record for the most vertical feet climbed and skied in 24 hours-- a mind-blowing 61,200 feet. And in addition to his impressive athletic career, Mike is also a committed conservationist, serving on the board of directors of the Five Valleys Land Trust, an innovative conservation organization that serves the five valleys surrounding Missoula. - Mike grew up in Ohio and had never visited the American West until a life-changing college road trip took him to Moab, Utah. He instantly fell in love with the wide-open landscapes of the American West-- so much so that he left college in Ohio and moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. During that first year in Steamboat, Mike became obsessed with the mountains-- skiing, running, and enjoying all aspects of life in a Rocky Mountain ski town. Although the learning curve was steep, Mike loved every minute of his new life in the mountains, and he gradually became more and more obsessed with endurance sports. Fast forward to today, and Mike’s list of endurance accomplishments is astonishing-- he’s earned podium finishes at some of the world’s most notable races, including the Hardrock, UTMB, Big Horn 100, and more. - Despite all of his world-class athletic accomplishments, Mike is an amazingly down-to-earth and humble guy. We had a wonderful conversation and managed to cover a lot in a little over an hour--topics that will be impactful to runners and nonrunners alike. We started by discussing his early years in Ohio and that fateful, life-changing trip out West. We talked about his progression in endurance sports, and his transformation from complete beginner to North Face sponsored athleteto race director of The Rut Mountain Runs. We spend a lot of time talking about mental health, and Mike graciously shares some of the techniques, books, and resources that have helped him manage the inevitable ups and downs in life and sport. We also talk about his hands-on work with the Five Valleys Land Trust, and why he has chosen to be so deeply involved in conservation. And Mike is a voracious reader, so he offers up quite a few excellent recommendations throughout the conversation. - This is an excellent episode, and I can’t thank Mike enough for being so open and thoughtful throughout the entire conversation. I hope you enjoy! --- Mike Foote on Instagram The North Face The Rut Mountain Runs Five Valleys Land Trust Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/mike-foote/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Where Mike grew up 5:45 - What drew Mike out West 11:50 - What was Mike’s first year out West like 14:25 - When Mike first started running 15:45 When did Mike realize he had a talent for distance running 19:10 - How did Mike end up in Missoula?  21:20 - Mentality shift from ”just going running” (paraphrased) to professional, goal-oriented training?  27:35 - What drives Mike on his runs? 32:00 - Community of ultra-endurance events 35:47 - Mike getting into the race directing business 39:57 - How does Mike deal with the mental struggles when running. 46:20 - Mike’s book recommendations for setting his mind right 49:00 - The importance of having deep conversations about mental health 50:30 - Mike’s commitment to land conservation 59:00 - General book recommendations 1:02:42 - Film recommendations 1:06:00 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts

If you’ve listened to the podcast for a while, then you’re probably familiar with each episode’s general format: I have a long-form conversation with an interesting person who is doing important work in the American West. We usually spend about half of the time discussing their work and the other half discussing their personal backstory—a format that I thoroughly enjoy and seems to have struck a chord with a surprisingly large audience of listeners. The episodes are designed to be evergreen—whether you listen to them now or ten years from now, guests offer up timeless lessons you can apply to your own life. - But given our current moment in history and the public health, economic, social, and environmental challenges that have been accelerated by COVID, I’ve decided to periodically experiment with a new episode format, one that I’m calling NEW WEST DISPATCHES.  In each New West Dispatch, I’ll speak with an expert about a very specific, current issue that is creating challenges for a specific sector of the American West. We’ll dig deep into the nitty gritty of the topic, going into more detail than usual, with the goal of gaining a better understanding of time-sensitive issues facing the West. We’ll hear firsthand stories from people on the front lines of their sectors, and discuss solutions to the problems at hand. The vast majority of Mountain & Prairie episodes will continue to follow the tried-and-true interview format, but every so often, as opportunities present themselves, I’ll look forward to getting a little more technical with Dispatches. - My guest for the first New West Dispatch is Matt Skoglund. Matt is an attorney-turned-bison rancher who joined me on the podcast last year for a fun and wide-ranging conversation about his path to founding his business North Bridger Bison. Matt came back to discuss some of the specific COVID-related challenges facing his bison business, specifically the astounding shortage of meat processing facilities throughout the American West. As you may remember, when COVID hit in March, there were endless news stories about meat shortages and breakdowns in supply chains linking producers and consumers. Although it’s not on the front page of the paper anymore, large-scale challenges persist, and Matt is in the middle of it all on a daily basis. So he was kind enough to return to the podcast to share his extensive knowledge on the subject, and to offer some potential solutions toward bolstering the food production system here in the West. - Matt covers a lot of ground in less than an hour, so be sure to check out the episode notes for a list of all the topics we discuss and links to resources. Hope you enjoy! --- North Bridger Bison Matt Skoglund's First Mountain & Prairie Episode Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/matt-skoglund-2/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Overview of North Bridger Bison 8:30 - COVID’s effects on meatpacking 11:45 - Big outbreaks in packing plants 15:30 - Challenges to regenerative ag because of COVID 17:30 - Cause of the processing backlog 21:00 - Fragility of the US food system 23:30 - What prevents entrepreneurs from opening more processing plants? 26:00 - Appreciation for good meat 29:30 - Grazing as healing for the ecosystem 33:00 - Will more meat processing businesses open? 35:15 - Will meat processing go back to “normal” after post-COVID? 39:00 - Gov. Steve Bullock’s COVID relief 40:30  - Labor shortages 42:00 - The art of butchery 44:00 - Be intentional with impact 49:00 - Externalities of cheap meat 53:00 - Books to read about meat 54:30 - Productive actions to take --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie

If you’re a long-time listener, then surely you remember Juanita Vero. Juanita is a fourth-generation Montana rancher, conservationist, community leader, and all-around inspiring woman. She’s also a devoted public servant, serving as a Missoula County Commissioner, where she gets her hands dirty with the critical and often not-so-glamorous work of county government. Juanita’s name will be on the ballot in Missoula County this November, where she is hoping to win a six-year term to continue her service as a Commissioner. - Juanita joined me on the podcast back in 2018, then again on stage at last year’s live podcast in Bozeman, so her personal story is probably familiar. I wanted to have her back on the show as we approach the election because her story serves as an inspiring example of how citizens can push outside of their comfort zones to lead the communities they love. As you’ll hear, Juanita had never considered assuming a public office—but when the opportunity presented itself, and she was encouraged to pursue it by fellow community leaders, she jumped at the chance. Since then, she has gone all-in and has thrived in her role as County Commissioner. - If you’re like me, you are probably overwhelmed with the negative, inflammatory news regarding politics and the upcoming election. But Juanita’s campaign and her desire to serve stands in stark contrast to much of our national discourse—she’s driven by a love of place, humility, a sense of duty, genuine curiosity, and a desire to find common ground. I think it’s important to remember that there are committed public servants in every county and city—good people who are driven not by the desire to accumulate power but by a desire to leave their communities better than they found them. Wherever you live, I hope that Juanita’s example will encourage you to engage with your local elected leaders, truly understand the candidates running for local offices, or maybe even run for office yourself. But at the least, I know you’ll enjoy listening to Juanita’s story, which will hopefully make you feel better about the world during these crazy times! --- Juanita Vero for Missoula County Commissioner Juanita's first M&P podcast episode Full Episide Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/juanita-vero-2/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Why and how Juanita decided to enter politics 9:30 - Specific experiences that let Juanita know she was ready to be a commissioner 13:30 - Importance of talking to her Grandfather 19:15 - What exactly is a county commissioner? 22:15 - Example of how commissioners can influence development 25:30 - Why she’s running for office 28:30 - Commissioners as true public servants 32:30 - COVID’s impact on Missoula County 34:30 - Positive effects of the “new normal” of COVID 36:00 - Transition from working on the land to an office job 39:20 - Advice for citizens who want to work productively with local government 42:30 - Greatest challenges and opportunities in Missoula County 46:15 - Smaller issues worth considering 48:00 - Climate change & Missoula County solutions 52:00 - Importance of community leadership 53:30 - Favorite books 57:15 - Favorite films 58:30 - Funny and surprising activities 59:30 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie

Jessica Wahl Turner is the Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), America's leading coalition of outdoor recreation trade associations and organizations. Currently, the ORR is comprised of 31 national association members that serve more than 100,000 outdoor-related businesses, which is an amazing feat considering that the organization is less than three years old. Jessica and her team bring together all sectors of the outdoor economy to harness the industry's collective power and advance issues related to conservation, outdoor access, public lands infrastructure, and much more. Whether she's in the halls of Congress or the wide-open spaces of the American West, Jessica is a devoted, effective advocate for the outdoor industry. - This conversation is part of the Montana Governor's Office of Outdoor Recreation's "Business of Outdoor Recreation Summit"—a gathering of some of the most notable names in the outdoor recreation sector. Because of COVID, this year's summit has gone virtual, but the need for collaboration and idea-sharing among industry experts has never been greater. The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable is a case study in focusing on common goals, putting aside petty differences, and overcoming challenges with new and innovative approaches. So I was thrilled to get a chance to learn exactly how Jessica has gone about leading her organization during these changing times. - Jessica and I connected on Zoom and had a fun, educational, and wide-ranging conversation about all aspects of the outdoor economy. We started by chatting about the history of ORR and precisely what the organization does. We also discussed the Great American Outdoors Act and how this landmark legislation will positively affect the outdoor industry. We talked about COVID's effect on the outdoor economy and how ORR is working to support outdoor businesses during these unprecedented times. We also talked about how the outdoor economy contributes to rural and urban areas and how all aspects of the outdoor economy are interconnected. We also spend some time talking about Jessica's educational and professional backgrounds, and what makes her so uniquely qualified for her current role. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, favorite outdoor adventures, and she offers some wise parting words. - This was a wonderful conversation, and I hope you enjoy. Be sure to check out the "Business of Outdoor Recreation Summit" webpage, as there are many resources, films, and other podcasts that you will find enjoyable and educational. Links to everything are in the episode notes. --- Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Montana Governor's Office of Outdoor Recreation 2020 Business of Outdoor Recreation Summit Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/jessica-turner/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Outdoor Recreation Roundtable explained 8:00 - Focusing on the commonalities in the outdoor industry 12:00 - Impact of the Great American Outdoors Act 17:30 - How the upcoming election could affect the recreation economy 22:00 - The national interconnectedness of the outdoor economy 26:45 - How COVID has affected the outdoor recreation economy 32:00 - Balancing conservation and increased outdoor activities 36:30 - Future goals and measures of success for the roundtable 40:30 - Jessica’s education and early career 44:15 - Lessoned learned from the Outdoor Industry Association 48:45 - Advice to aspiring industry advocates/lobbyists 53:15 - Heroes and mentors 58:00 - Favorite books 1:01:30 - Favorite place in the outdoors 1:03:00 - Jessica’s parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie

Steve Casimiro is the founder and editor of Adventure Journal, an online and quarterly print magazine devoted to outdoor adventure in all its forms. AJ began as Steve's personal blog back in 2008—a project he created on the side while writing for National Geographic Adventure. Steve's unique perspective and devotion to adventure writing struck a chord with the outdoor community, and AJ's audience grew and grew. When National Geographic Adventure closed its doors in 2009, Steve decided to pursue AJ with his full professional focus, building a loyal following who is deeply devoted to AJ online and in print. - Steve grew up on the east coast, and from an early age, he was obsessed with writing, photography, and storytelling. After earning a degree in journalism, he spent his early twenties writing for traditional newspapers, including USA Today. But when presented with the opportunity to meld his passion for the outdoors with his journalism career, he left the newspaper business to join the team at the legendary ski magazine Powder. From there, Steve immersed himself in all aspects of the adventure media world, honing his craft for storytelling and dialing in his voice as a writer and editor. The culmination of these years of hard work is Adventure Journal, which is, in my opinion, one of the most essential voices in the outdoor community. - It's no secret that I'm a massive fan of Adventure Journal. I reference it often in my weekly newsletter and suggest the quarterly print publication in my reading recommendation emails. But what I find most impressive about Steve is how he has built such a loyal community of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts—curious, thoughtful, open-minded readers who enjoy thinking deeply about the outdoors and adventure. In this conversation, Steve shares how he managed to create such a unique community and what drives him to work so hard to continue to build it. We talk about AJ's values as a business, and we discuss his recent commitment to make AJ carbon neutral. We talk about how Steve welcomes ideas and opinions that he may not necessarily agree with, and the unique niche that AJ fills in the outdoor community. Steve also discusses how his his wife Joni, who is the AJ Art Director, has played an invaluable role in the growth of AJ. We talk about the importance of attention, the need to support independent media, what he looks for in writers, the importance of optimism, his ideas on building community, and much more. - Whether you're a writer, photographer, business owner, community builder, or outdoor enthusiast, I can promise you that you'll learn a lot from this conversation. Oh, and keep an eye on my Instagram account, because I'll be doing a giveaway of a few copies of AJ later this week. You can find a link to my Instagram Account in the episode notes. - Thanks to Steve for taking the time to join me. I hope you enjoy! -- Adventure Journal Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/steve-casimiro/ Mountain & Prairie on Instagram (for the AJ giveaway)   -- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - AJ’s decision to be carbon neutral 7:00 - Founding values of AJ 9:45 - Thoughts on the business decision of going carbon neutral 15:00 - Importance of where we focus our attention 20:00 - Influences on Steve’s unique approach to media and AJ 24:30 - AJ’s transition from personal project to full-time gig 26:30 - Thoughts on AJ’s tone, consistency, and content 30:30 - Evolution from traditional journalism to AJ 35:00 - Importance of doing work that is new and innovative 40:45 - Impactful notes and letters from AJ readers 41:30 - Deep feelings brought out by outdoor adventure 43:00 - Important example that pursuing one’s passion can set 46:00 - Pushing through being “stuck” 51:00 - Optimist or Pessimist? 55:45 - What Steve looks for in writers 1:01:30 - Importance of supporting media with your dollars 1:06:00 - Having high expectations of the brands you support 1:09:00 - Favorite books 1:12:00 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie

Chris Castilian is the Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado (also known as GOCO), an organization that has committed more than $1.2 billion toward preserving and enhancing Colorado’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. Founded in 1992, GOCO is truly a one-of-a-kind conservation funder—the organization invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds into a wide variety of critical projects, with a current emphasis on issues including equitable access and community vitality. GOCO’s impact around Colorado is staggering—its funding has conserved more than 1.2 million acres, added over 47,000 acres to the state park system, protected over 1,000 miles of rivers, and much more. - Chris is a native Coloradan, and all aspects of his professional success and personal passions speak to his deep love of his home state and its wide-open spaces. Chris was formally trained as an attorney, but early is his career, he chose to focus on service rather than billing hours at a fancy law firm. He served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Bill Owens and as Director of the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners. He also had a successful stint in the private sector, honing his business skills which have served him well at GOCO. And, as you’ll hear, his focus manifests itself in his personal life through his commitment to the outdoors and mountain biking—he’s completed the Leadville 100 mountain bike race multiple times. - Since we’re all sticking close to home these days, Chris and I connected via Skype to talk about GOCO, his career, and his thoughts on conservation in Colorado and beyond. We started with a deep dive into the history of GOCO, discussed how the organization has evolved, and talked about its goals and plans for the coming years. We also discussed how GOCO is working to address some of the current public health and social challenges here in Colorado, including equitable access to the outdoors. Chris and I spent a lot of time discussing his personal background—why he chose to pursue a service-based career, his thoughts on leadership, lessons learned from his time in the business world, and what characteristics he looks for in employees. We also discussed his love of mountain biking, the Leadville 100, our shared interest in books and history, and he offered some wise parting words to listeners. - If you care about protecting the West’s open spaces and communities, then this episode is a must-listen.  Enjoy! --- Great Outdoors Colorado Partners in the Outdoors --- This episode is brought to you by Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Partners in the Outdoors program. The Partners in the Outdoors program brings together diverse interests from across the entire spectrum of the outdoors to advance and balance both outdoor recreation and conservation in Colorado. The program seeks to foster alignment and trust through three cornerstone initiatives: the Partners in the Outdoors Conference, the Colorado Outdoor Partnership, and the Colorado Outdoor Principles, as well as extensive resource sharing and network building. --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 5:00 - The history of GOCO 7:30 - Similar programs in other states 8:30 - Why conservation matters during these crazy times 11:15 - GOCO’s new strategic plan 15:30 - A new holistic approach to community and conservation 18:45 - The evolution of GOCO 21:30 - Core values of GOCO 24:45 - Equitable access to the outdoors 28:30 - GOCO’s Equity Principles 34:00 - Inspiring work in Leadville, Colorado 37:45 - Growing up in Denver 38:30 - Life after law school 40:30 - Why pursue mission-based work? 45:00 - Transition into the private sector 47:30 - Changing mindset of the oil and gas industry 50:00 - Benefits of having business experience 56:00 - What Chris looks for when hiring people 58:00 - Favorite books 1:00:45 - Mountain biking, Leadville 100, Breck Epic, and other outdoor activities 1:07:00 - Favorite places in Colorado 1:08:45 - Parting words of wisdom ----- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie

Anna Brones is a freelance journalist, author, artist, and producer who is prolific in all of her creative endeavors—she’s published four books, produced documentary films, is currently publishing a quarterly print journal about food, and much more. One of her most recent projects was the Women’s Wisdom Project, in which she showcased the wisdom of inspiring women by creating 100 papercut portraits. All of Anna’s work is authentic and enlightening, and her personal commitment to cultivating creativity is instructive and inspiring. - Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Anna always had a deep appreciation for nature and community. She has studied, lived, and worked in many different countries and cities, but several years ago decided to return to her hometown in Washington state where she and her husband currently live. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Anna has read and thought deeply on the importance of place, and offers a unique perspective on what it means to be truly connected to a landscape or community. - Anna and I connected via Skype and had a wide-ranging conversation about her creative process, her current and past artistic projects, the importance of wilderness and nature, and much more. We started by discussing her Creative Fuel Challenge email newsletter—an amazing resource that has been very helpful to me during these past few crazy months. We also discussed her Women’s Wisdom Project—how she researched all 100 inspirational women and the process of creating 100 intricate pieces of art. Anna talked about her experience leading kids on a wilderness leadership retreat, as well as how camp and wilderness experiences in her own youth helped to shape her life and career. And as usual, we discussed favorite books and her most powerful outdoor experience, and she also offered some excellent words of wisdom for anyone with creative aspirations. - There are tons of resources mentioned in this episode.  Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything, including a few bonus resources that Anna and I discussed before and after recording the actual episode. Enjoy! --- Anna Brones Women's Wisdom Project Creative Fuel --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - The Creative Fuel Challenge explained 6:30 - Why provide creative prompts? 7:45 - Importance of putting out regular content 9:30 - Time as an artist in residence 12:30 - Process of finding balance in life and creativity 15:30 - Pushing through creative blocks 19:00 - Fighting the reptile brain 20:45 - Using social media productively 23:45 - The Women’s Wisdom Project 27:45 - Process of researching women leaders 32:30 - The myth of having millions of ideas 36:00 - Anna’s early years in Washington state 41:00 - Importance of “place” 45:30 - How Anna came to appreciate the complexities of place 50:30 - Artists that Anna admires 53:30 - Anna’s experience leading wilderness trips 57:45 - How camp experiences benefited Anna 1:02:00 - Favorite books 1:06:30 - Most powerful outdoor experience 1:09:00 - Parting words of wisdom